Rory Carroll

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters), – On Sunday, the U.S. men’s soccer team sent an open message to Congress urging them for stricter gun laws in the wake of a spike in mass shootings. In addition to this, NBA coaches and players raised the subject before Game Two.

Police say that at least three victims were killed and eleven others were injured in a shooting incident in Philadelphia on Sunday. This is the second instance of gun violence in America after the recent deaths in Oklahoma, New York, and Texas.

In a letter, the U.S. men’s soccer team stated: “Our ability is limited to effectuate change. But yours is not.”

You could vote to end gun violence in America this week, which you would. This serious problem will be addressed by several bills being considered in the U.S. House of Representatives. We ask that you vote “yes” on every bill being considered.

As many teams did this weekend in the United States, the team wore orange armbands to show support for “Wear Orange Week”, an annual initiative calling for the end of gun violence.

Before Game Two, coaches and players wore orange shirts that read “End Gun Violence” at the front. The back included a list of organisations working to tackle the problem.

Steve Kerr, Warriors head coach, stated that the league feels strongly that people should take note and join in the effort to end gun violence.

There are many ways to reduce it. Existing laws are already in place and are ready to be adopted.

The Gun Violence Archive is a non-profit research group that estimates there were at least 239 mass killings this year in America. A mass shooting is defined as a situation in which more than four people have been killed, with the exception of the shooter.

On Thursday, Joe Biden (the US President) called for Congress to ban assault weapons and expand background checks. He also asked Congress to implement gun control measures in order to end the spate of mass shootings.

While a large majority of American voters support stronger gun control laws (both Republicans and Democrats), Republicans in Congress, along with some moderate Democrats, have been blocking such legislation for many years.